Once returning to the ruins of Ostagar, Sereda filled Duncan in on the events that had occurred the wilds as Alistair interjected occasionally, mainly to add some dramatic effect to the story. Duncan raised an eyebrow when they got to the part about the scrolls and the two women.

"Were they wilder folk?" Duncan asked.

Alistair shook his head. "I don't think so. They might be apostates." He glanced at Sereda as he noticed her confused look. "Mages hiding from the Chantry."

Duncan shook his head. "I know you were once a Templar, Alistair, but Chantry business is not ours. We have the scrolls; let us focus on the Joining."

Theron crossed his arms and looked directly at Duncan. "Now will you tell us what this ritual is about?"

"I will not lie." Duncan gave them a sympathetic remorseful look. "We Grey Wardens pay a heavy price to become what we are. Fate may decree you pay your price now rather than later."

Daylen blinked. "Is this why the Joining is so secret?"

"The only such secrets were unnecessary and all understood the necessity of such sacrifice." Duncan sighed. "Sadly, that will never be so."

Daveth took a breath. "Let's go, then. I'm anxious to see this Joining now."

"I agree. Let's have it done." Jory added as the others started to nod agreement.

"Then let us begin." Duncan said before turning to Alistair. "Alistair, take them to the old temple. We will begin at sunset."


Theron built up a small fire. Faren rummaged in his bag for a bottle, then offered it to Alistair. "What can you tell us about this Joining?"

"Try not to worry about it." Alistair accepted the bottle and took a drink. He blanched, then offered the bottle back. "It will..." He coughed, and his voice returned to normal. "Just distract you."

Faren took a drink. "I could do with a distraction."

Theron warmed his hands by the fire. "And I'm only one here who doesn't really have a choice in the matter. Either I do this Joining or I die an agonizing death."

"Can't say I envy you, Wolf." Faren said.

"I know Faren and Sereda have fought darkspawn before. What about the rest of you? First time?" Alistair glanced at Theron. "Well, not for you, I suppose."

Theron shrugged. Daylen nodded. "They are… quite worse than I had imagined."

Alistair nodded. "When I fought my first one, I wasn't prepared for how monstrous it was. Still, this is better than memorizing yet another verse from the chant."

Faren grinned at Alistair. "Sounds like being a warden is a dream come true for you."

Alistair smiled back. "What about you?"

"Ha, my mother wasn't really a person who told her children bedtime stories." Faren said as Alistair blinked. "Come to think of it, I doubt that think she'll notice that I'm gone. Though I heard stories now and then from the other casteless."

"While I grew up with the stories." Sereda winked, snagging the bottle from him and taking a drink before passing it on. "I know many Warrior Caste, who would be envious of our casteless friend here. I bet most them had pulled off their beards."

Faren laughed. "I'd like to see that."

Theron chuckled. "I've heard stories of the Grey Wardens, how they charge at the darkspawn hordes without a flicker of fear and how they have brought light in the darkest of times in the past."

Elissa nodded. "Swooping in on a griffin, saving the world..."

Theron laughed even louder. "Yes, I know all about griffins. My friend Merrill would always convince me to mention a griffin or two in every story I told. Most of my clan would end up annoyed to no end."

Daylen shook his head. "They are good stories. Most Circle Mages wish to join the Grey Wardens, though I think it's because they want to give far away from the Templars as possible."

Kallian leaned back looking up into the stars. "When I was a child, my mother used to tell me tales of them, especially about the great elven hero Garahel. Though my father and the elder kept on convincing me to become a merchant."

Daveth shook his head. "Good thing you didn't, it'll be a boring life."

Faren looked at Daylen. "Hey, this thing is supposed to be magical right? Don't you know anything about it?"

Daylen pondered for a moment. "I've read a lot of stories about Grey Wardens, but I don't recall this "Joining" ever being mentioned."

"Maybe it's like this… Harrowing you do." Faren suggested.

"The Harrowing is the test given to mages to see if they have what it takes to control their abilities. To become more than apprentices." Daylen shivered at the memory. "Though I hope it isn't, I had to fight a demon."

"Uh… huh… well, I suppose that can't so bad." Faren shrugged. "I mean, we've already done that once today, and it worked out alright." He chuckled. "Here I was all nervous that they were going to make it a spelling test or something like that."

Daylen shook his head and walked over to the ledge that overlooking the Korcari wilds. Theron got up and stood next to him. "Quite the view."

Daylen nodded. "It looks like it goes on forever." He then looked at Theron. "You think we'll see those two witches again?"

Theron took a breath. "I'm not sure, we may never know. No one truly knows what the future may hold."

Daylen smiled. "You remind me of one of the senior mages. She is probably the eldest and wisest of them all."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Theron said before looking over the forest. "A blade may break, or be sheathed to fight again another day. Either way, the battle goes on, and it is not the blade that decides."

"An elfish saying?" Daylen narrowed his eyes.

"Not really." Theron went silent for a moment, then nodded at the horizon. "There, sunset."

Daylen nodded. "Well, we should tell the others to get ready."


They all waited within the temple and Jory's pacing was becoming more desperate. "The more I hear about this Joining, the less I like it."

"Are you blubbering again?" Daveth demanded, refraining himself from rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Why all these damned tests? Have I not earned my place?" Jory leaned back towards a wall and slammed his fist onto it.

"Maybe it's tradition." Daveth shrugged. "Maybe they're just trying to annoy you."

"Calm down. There's nothing we can do about it now." Kallian said.

"I only know that my wife is in Highever with a child on the way. If they had warned me… it just doesn't seem fair." Jory muttered.

"Would you have come if they'd warned you? Maybe that's why they don't. The Wardens do what they must, right?" Daveth pointed out.

"Including sacrificing us?" Jory raised his eyebrows.

Daveth glared at him. "I'd sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight."

"You make a good point." Elissa said.

Daveth nodded at her, then looked back at Jory. "You saw those darkspawn, sir knight. Wouldn't you die to protect your pretty wife from them?"

"I..."

Daveth cut him off. "Maybe you'll die. Maybe we'll all die. If nobody stops the darkspawn, we'll die for sure."

Jory stared at him, then shook his head again. "I've just never faced a foe I could not engage with my blade."

Duncan then entered into the temple with a grave look on his face. "At last we come to the Joining. The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was then that the first Grey Wardens drank of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Duncan's voice was calm as he spoke the ceremonial words.

Jory paled. "We're going to drink the blood of those… those creatures?"

"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." Duncan said.

Alistair nodded. "Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon."

"Those who survive?" Faren asked, crossing his arms.

"Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do are forever changed. This is why the Joining is a secret. It is the price we pay. We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?" Duncan stepped back, and began pouring some black liquid into a silver chalice.

Alistair bowed his head. "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day, we shall join you."

Duncan held out the chalice. "Daveth, step forward."

Daveth glanced at the others, then stepped forward and took the chalice. He took a deep breath, then put the cup to his lips and drank. Duncan caught the chalice as it fell from Daveth's hands. Daveth staggered as his eyes rolled back into his head. He put a hand to his throat, then collapsed to his knees as bloody froth began to pour from his lips. Elissa gasped, and turned away. Alistair put a hand on her shoulder, and she buried her face in his chest.

"Maker's breath!" Jory cursed.

Duncan's face was pained. "I am sorry, Daveth." Daveth twitched, and jerked once more before going still. Duncan poured more of the black liquid into the cup. "Step forward, Jory."

Jory stepped back, pulling out his sword. "But… I have a wife. A child! Had I known..."

"There is no turning back." Duncan said, nearing him.

Jory shook his head. "No! You ask too much!" He pointed the blade at Duncan. "There is no glory in this."

Duncan pulled out his own sword and easily deflected Jory's swing before stabbing him in the chest. Jory gasped and groaned as Duncan looked at him remorsefully. "I am sorry." He pulled away as Jory fell down, drawing his last breath as the others stared in shock. "But the Joining is not yet complete." He looked over the faces of the others. "You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good."

Theron stepped forward, and took the chalice from Duncan. He drank, and started to hand it back. He staggered, and Duncan caught the chalice. Theron's eyes seemed to go white as he collapsed to his knees, and then slumped back as he fainted. Duncan smiled. "From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden." His eyes went to the dwarven woman. "Sereda, step forth..."


Theron opened his eyes and stirred slightly. Duncan came over to kneel beside him. "It is finished. Welcome." He offered a hand, and Theron let him pull him to his feet.

"Two more deaths." Alistair shook his head. "In my Joining, only one of us died, but it was… horrible."

"How do you feel?" Duncan gave him a concerned look.

Theron looked into his eyes. "I still can't believe you killed Ser Jory."

"Jory was warned that there was no turning back, as were you all. When he went for his blade, however, he left me no choice."

Theron nodded to where Sereda was starting to stir. At once, he began to help her up and it was then he realized that he no longer felt the itchiness in his bones and he could no longer hear the strange melody.

Alistair went to aid Elissa. Faren started to stir, and Sereda went to offer him a hand up. Daylen sat up, shaking his head in confusion. Kallian put a hand up over her face, and groaned.

Alistair gave Elissa a sympathetic look. "Did you have dreams? I had terrible dreams after my Joining."

"Such dreams come when you begin to sense the darkspawn, as we all do. That and many other things can be explained in the months to come." Duncan looked them over.

Theron looked around. The fire had burned down, and the bodies of Jory and Daveth were nowhere to be seen as the other recruits realized that they had been unconscious for some time.

Alistair dug into his belt pouch. "Before I forget, there is one last part to your Joining. We take some of that blood and put it in a pendant. Something to remind us..." He sighed. "Of those who didn't make it this far."

Duncan then looked at Sereda. "Take some time. When you're ready, I'd like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king."

"What kind of meeting?" Sereda asked.

"The king discussing strategy for the upcoming battle. I'm not sure why he has requested your presence." He then turned and started walking down the stairs. "The meeting is to the west, down the stairs. Please attend as soon as you are able."

Theron stared out over the ledge. "There are so many of them out there."

"Hmm… I don't sense anything." Faren said before turning to them. "Except what I think is you guys. That's… kind of interesting." He suddenly frowned. "By the Stone. How am I supposed to sneak up on any of you now?"

Alistair chuckled. "I'm told the range we can sense varies somewhat from Warden to Warden."

Theron shook his head. "It's like having a foul taste in your mouth."

"Well then, I ain't gonna envy you." Faren shrugged.

Daylen gave Theron a worried look. "Are you alright? How are you feeling?"

Theron frowned. "I don't feel on fire and I doubt something is trying to crawl out of my skin, so I think I'm as fine as I can be."

Daylen placed a hand on Theron's shoulder. "Well, if you feel bad again, let me know, my friend."

Theron smiled and nodded. "I appreciate the offer, Daylen."


Sereda soon made her way to the meeting and found Cailan and Loghain at each other's throats.

"Loghain, my decision is final. I will stand by the Grey Wardens in this assault." Cailan's voice sounded firmly.

"You risk too much, Cailan!" Loghain protested. "The darkspawn horde is too dangerous for you to be playing hero on the front lines."

Cailan shook his head. "If that's the case, perhaps we should wait for the Orlesian forces to join us, after all."

Loghain glared, gritting his teeth at the mention of Orlais as Sereda noticed the venom in his tone. "I must repeat my protest to your fool notion that we need the Orlesians to defend ourselves!"

Cailan shook his head. "It's not a "fool notion". Our arguments with the Orlesians are a thing of the past… and you will remember who is king." Sereda smiled. He reminded her of her father… which she thought was both good and a bad thing.

Loghain rubbed his forehead before clenching his fists. "How fortunate Maric did not live to see his son ready to hand Ferelden over to those who enslaved us for a century!"

"Then our current forces will have to suffice, won't they?" Cailan said confidently before he turned towards Duncan and Sereda. "Duncan, are your men ready for battle?"

Duncan nodded. "They are, your majesty."

Cailan then spotted Sereda. "My lady. I understand congratulations are in order."

"Thank you, your majesty." Sereda bowed.

"Every Grey Warden is needed now. You should be honored to join their ranks." Cailan smiled.

Loghain rolled his eyes, whirling on Cailan. "Your fascination with glory and legends will be your undoing, Cailan. We must attend to reality."

Cailan was on verge of throwing up his hands as he sighed. "Fine. Speak your strategy." He leaned towards the table, examining the map. "The Grey Wardens and I draw the darkspawn into charging our lines and then…?"

Loghain gestured at the tower on the map. "You will alert the tower to light the beacon, signaling my men to charge from cover."

"To flank the darkspawn, I remember." Cailan interrupted. "This is the Tower of Ishal in the ruins, yes? Who shall light this beacon?"

"I have a few men stationed there. It's not a dangerous task, but it is vital."

"Then we should send our best. Send Alistair and the new Grey Wardens to make sure it's done."

Sereda blinked, then glanced at Duncan. Duncan narrowed his eyes slightly. She had a feeling there was more to the king's order than he was saying before she nodded. "I'll do my best, your Majesty."

"You rely on these Grey Wardens too much. Is that truly wise?" Loghain questioned.

Cailan sighed. "Enough of your conspiracy theories, Loghain." He turned to Duncan and Sereda "Grey Wardens battle the Blight, no matter where they're from."

Duncan gave Cailan a respectful nod. "Your majesty, you should consider the possibility of the archdemon appearing."

Loghain shook his head. "There have been no signs of any dragons in the Wilds."

Cailan shrugged. "Isn't that what your men are here for, Duncan?"

"I..." Duncan's face became resigned. "Yes, your Majesty."

An elderly mage approached the king. "Your Majesty, the tower and its beacon are necessary. The Circle of Magi—"

Then a Chantry cleric stepped forward. "We will not trust any lives to your spells, mage! Save them for the darkspawn!"

Sereda could not help but agree with the mage, sending seven Grey Wardens just to light the signal seemed like a waste. The mages' suggestion sounded far more logical and seemed to have a better chance of success.

"Enough!" Loghain intervened, ending the argument. "This plan will suffice. The Grey Wardens will light the beacon."

Cailan smiled, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Thank you, Loghain. I cannot wait for that glorious moment! The Grey Wardens battle beside the king of Ferelden to stem the tide of evil!"

Loghain turned around, narrowing his eyes. "Yes, Cailan. A glorious moment for us all."


As they walked back from the council to find the others, Sereda sighed. "Hammer and anvil, fairly basic stuff..."

"But?"

"The supply lines aren't positioned right for it. The anvil is undersupplied, especially if the darkspawn manage to get into any kind of siege position."

Duncan frowned, and played the battle through in his head. "I see what you mean, the anvil won't be able to hold out very long. But it's a large hammer. And no archdemon in the field, perhaps they are holding the supplies in reserve."

"You'll be with the king?"

"Yes."

"In the anvil?"

Duncan glanced down at the dwarf. "Yes."

"Surely not all of us are needed at the tower. I'd feel better if..."

"The king has given an order." Duncan reminded.

Sereda sighed, shooting Duncan a glare. "The king is young, inexperienced and naïve. And if I may remind you, the last time I got sidelined like this, I ended up exiled."

Duncan sighed. "We're not in Orzammar, and you have no brothers to interfere this time."

Sereda shook her head, scowling. "I may not be in Orzammar anymore, but human politics, whose king cares more for glory than victory? I have a feeling some things don't change anywhere."


"You and Alistair will go to the Tower of Ishal and ensure the beacon is lit." Duncan said as they reached the other new Grey Wardens.

"What? I won't be in the battle?" Alistair confused.

Faren scowled, crossing his arms. "Let me see, if I get it right. You're sending seven Wardens to light a sodding beacon?"

"This is by the king's personal request, Alistair." Duncan said, sounding almost fatherly. "If the beacon is not lit, Teyrn Loghain's men won't know when to charge."

"So he needs seven Grey Wardens standing up there holding the torch. Just in case, right?" Alistair questioned.

Elissa shook her head. "I agree with Alistair. We should be in the battle."

Theron nodded. "You'll need every man you get your hands on and you'll be heavily outnumbered."

"That is not your choice." Duncan said firmly. "If King Cailan wishes Grey Wardens to ensure the beacon is lit, then Grey Wardens will be there." He looked them over. "We must do whatever it takes to destroy the darkspawn… exciting or no."

Alistair sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "I get it. I get it. Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no."

Elissa giggled, amused. "I think I'd like to see that."

Alistair gave her a grin. "For you, maybe. But it has to be a pretty dress."

Theron chuckled. "I don't know. That could be a great distraction."

"Me shimmying down the darkspawn line? Sure, we could kill them while they roll around laughing." Alistair snickered.

Duncan sighed. "Once the beacon is lit, you can join Loghain's lines. The tower is on the other side of the gorge from the king's camp, the way we came when we arrived. You'll need to cross the gorge and head through the gate and up to the tower entrance. From the top, you'll overlook the entire valley."

"Sounds easy enough." Kallian shrugged.

"We will signal you when the time is right." Duncan said. "Sereda knows what to look for." He nodded. "I must join the others. From here, you are on your own. Remember, you are Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title."

"Duncan..." Alistair said. "May the Maker watch over you."

"May He watch over us all." Duncan looked at them once more, then walked off.

"All right, people." Sereda said as she watched him go. "Let's go light a fire."